Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and other guests gather for a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the Green Gypsy Mobile Bar, one of the newest Chamber members. The event took place at the recent membership crawfish boil.

By Donnie A. Lucas

For the fourth week in a row, no new cases of COVID-19 were recorded at the three Albany testing sites last week, with the last positive case reported a month ago.

A total of just three tests were administered during the week of April 25-29, which is one test fewer than the previous week.

There were two hospitalized cases in Trauma Service Area D which includes Abilene and Brownwood hospitals, the same as the number of hospitalized cases the prior week.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With the school year winding down, summer is about to kick off, and ResourceCare is opening up registration for Day Camp 2022 to be held July 11-22.

ResourceCare programs assistant Ragan Riley said registration for the annual program will be held next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10-11 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and then from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Albany Youth Center.

“All campers must be registered during these two days,” said Riley. “We will not be able to sign up children for the program after May 11.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Shackelford County voters will have the chance to vote on two proposed amendments to the Texas constitution both dealing with property tax exemptions, along with deciding the fate of a slate of seven candidates for four seats on the Shackelford County Hospital Board.

All precincts will vote at the courthouse on Saturday, May 7 from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Voters are reminded to bring a government photo identification card in order to voter, along with their voter registration card.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany High School is sending two senior students to Austin this week to compete in the UIL Academic Meet at the University of Texas.

Sarah Cotter took second in editorial writing at the Region II Meet on April 22 to advance. She will be joined by Susie Cormack, who was third in news writing at the regional level.

The top three places from each of the four regions qualify for state. The top six of the 12 competitors in each category will receive a state medal.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Rehearsals for the 2022 version of the Fort Griffin Fandangle have begun in earnest with a full slate of practices scheduled on each Sunday through Thursday during the month of May.

The first general rehearsal was held Tuesday, with many of the parts assigned for both singing and acting roles. However, director Lorna Ayers stressed that everyone who wants to participate in the show should make all future rehearsals if possible.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s freshman and junior students participated in an aquatic biology field day earlier at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Moran science teacher Matthew Hise said the program provided a general overview of different kinds of environments. The freshman students are taking biology, with the juniors involved in an aquatic science class.

“We  don’t have aquifer water in our area,” Hise said. “It was an experience to see aquatic organisms that are totally different from what we have in our area.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

It wasn’t exactly a case of lighting striking twice, but it was close.

The first time the Albany Lion Band earned a Sweepstakes Award for earning Division I ratings in marching, sight reading, and concert contests was in 1962.

The band that year was in the second year of a new director who had to dip down to the eighth graders, and even a few members from the seventh grade, to have a group large enough to truly compete.

Fast forward to 2022, some 60 years later, when the Lion Band repeated earning the Sweepstakes Award.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Ministerial Alliance is again spearheading local participation in the National Day of Prayer.

The local event will be held at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, May 5 at Bank Park.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.”

The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer in 1775. President Abraham Lincoln called for a day of prayer in 1863 during the Civil War.

By Sam Waller

The Feed Store student council will make another attempt at staging its Powder Puff football game after last week’s effort was rained out.

Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said the event is now planned for 2:00 p.m. this coming Sunday, May 1 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

“Everything is the same with the exact same time; we’ve just changed the dates,” Wilkins said. “We were very thankful for the rain we got last Sunday, though.”